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Voter turnout in Tennessee primary elections falls below 14%
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Voter turnout in Tennessee primary elections falls below 14%

Voter turnout in Thursday’s primary election was the lowest in decades, with less than 14% of Tennessee’s registered voters voting early, absentee or on Election Day.

While voter registration has steadily increased in recent years, fewer registered voters are participating in elections. Just over 637,500 voters cast ballots in the Aug. 1 election, according to unofficial vote totals submitted to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office. The number is expected to change slightly as results are certified, spokesman Doug Kufner said.

Last month, there were nearly 4.6 million registered voters in Tennessee, according to the Secretary of State’s office, a significant increase from 3.9 million in 2016. About 13.9% of registered voters participated in the state’s primary last week.

Over the past decade, turnout in the August primary has tended to be higher in gubernatorial primary years, with the exception of 2020, when more voters cast absentee ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Statewide voter turnout in the August primary has fallen below 15% only three times in the past 30 years, all in presidential election years.

Still, only a fraction of registered voters routinely participate.

In an analysis of electoral performance by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tennessee ranked 51st in the United States for voter turnout in 2022. While voter registration has been steadily increasing, only an estimated 80% of eligible Tennessee citizens are actually registered, despite online registration being available.

But state election officials expect a much higher turnout in the November presidential election. Historically, turnout is much higher during general presidential elections and rose to 69% in 2020.

“It’s never been easier to register to vote or cast your ballot in Tennessee,” Kufner said. “Voters have the convenience and flexibility of the 14-day early voting period as well as Election Day to make their voices heard. The Secretary of State’s office wants all registered voters to cast their ballot during the November election cycle, and we anticipate strong turnout this fall.”

Voter turnout in Davidson County was below the state average, with just under 66,200 voters participating in the U.S. Senate primary.

By comparison, 66,071 votes were cast in the March presidential preference primary, or about 13.1% of the half-million total registered voters, compared with 23% of voters who participated in last year’s Metro runoff election.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or in X on @Vivian_E_Jones.

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